122. Ceriagrion fallax pendleburyi (Laidlaw, 1931)

Number: 122

Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Ceriagrion

 Species: Ceriagrion fallax pendleburyi

Common name(s): Black-tailed Marsh Dart
Thai name(s): แมลงปอเข็มสีพื้นปลายดำ, แมลงปอเข็มเซอร์อกเขียวท้องเหลือง
Habitat: Upland ponds, tree-lined

Province(s) sighted: Headquarters, Doi Inthanon National Park (Chiang Mai); possible sighting Phu Kradueng NP (Loei)

Sightings (by me): Fairly common at above location
In flight (that I have seen): April (though longer, I'm sure)

The 7th species of 12 from the Ceriagrion genus, and one I have only just realised I forgot to post! Back in April 2010, I visited Doi Inthanon National Park for 8 days and camped alone... quite literally. I was pretty much the only person there. It was a wonderful place where I encountered numerous new species, and one I will return to for sure. One species I saw fairly regularly in the bushes away from water, was Ceriagrion fallax 

pendleburyi

. It's similar to C. indochinense (blog no. 14), which are common in Khon Kaen. However, much of the latter segments of the abdomen are black. 

The male

As you can see, the male is similar to C. indochinense, except for the prominent black dorsal markings from S7-10. Caudal appendages black also.

The female

Female is similar to the male, but dull in comparison. Also, the females are extremely shy and fly far away at the slightest movement.